Machine for simultaneously applying a plurality of tires on a plurality of wheels



April 5, 1949.`

MACHINE Fon SIMULTA' Filed Aug. 11, 1945 w R. BISHOP 2,466,569 NEOUSLYAPPLYING A PLURALITY OF TIRES 0N A PLURALITY OF WHEELS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1`"MACHINE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLYING A PLURALITY April 5, 1949. W, RBISHOP 2,466,569

` OF TIRES ON A PLURALITY OF WHEELS Filed Aug. l1, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 25 Sheets-Sheet 3 W. R. BISHOP prll 5, i949.

MACHINE EOE sIMULTANEousLY APPLYING A PLUEALITY y oF TIRES oN APLURALITY oE WHEELS Fi1ed Aug. 11, 1945 E ENF @Xn on@ mm@ W. R. BISHOPApril 5, w49.

MACHINE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLYING A PLURALITY OF' TIRES ON A PLURALITYOF WHEELS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 1l, 1945 prll 5, 949. w. R. BISHOPMACHINE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLYING A PLURALITY 0E TIRES oN A PLUEALITY0E wHEELs 5 Sheets-sheet 5 Filed Aug. l1, 1945 Patented Apr. 5, 1949MACHINE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLYING A PLURALITY OF TIRES ON A PLURALITYOF WHEELS William R. Bishop, Richmond, Ind., assignor to The F. & N.Lawn Mower Company, Richmond, Ind., a corporation of DelawareApplication August 11, 1945, Serial No. 610,287

21 Claims.

, a machine which will stretch a plurality of rubber tires and positionthem overv a plurality of wheels for simultaneous application theretoupon release and contraction of the tires.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which willsupport a lawn mower and simultaneously apply rubber tires on the twowheels of the mower.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which willsupport, stretch, position and release a plurality of rubber tires forapplication thereof simultaneously upon a plurality of wheels over whichthe tires have been moved in the stretched condition.

Figs. 10 `and 11 are enlarged detail views of guide rods and associateddevices shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged end view of a lawn mower holder and associateddevices shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicatelike parts throughout the several Views, 5 indicates broadly the frameof the machine, Figs. 1 and 2, and 6 indicates legs ofthe frame atopposite ends thereof. Legs 6 are connected by cross braces 'l which, inturn, are connected by a longitudinal brace 8. Fitted in the lower endsof legs 6 are casters 9 which enable the frame 5 and parts mountedthereon to be readily moved about from place to place as desired.Secured to the upper ends of legs s 6 are cross supports I0 for a bed Ilcomprised by rails I2 which are secured to the cross sup- Another objectof the invention is to provide a machine which will support a lawn mowerand hold, stretch, position and release rubber tires for applicationthereof to both mower wheels simultaneously upon a release andcontraction of the tires. f

'I'hese and other objects of the invention will appear from thefollowing descriptionand byA reference to the -accompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention andhaving means for supporting a lawn mower and applying rubber tiressimultaneously to the wheels of the mower;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section view of the machine shown inFig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a schematic top plan view of connections for supplyingcompressed air to and operating rubber tire stretching and applyingmeans shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged side views, partly in section, of the rubbertire stretching and applying means in tire stretching and tire releasingpositions, respectively;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged transverse vertical sectional views on thelines 1 1, 8 8, 9-9, respectvely, of Fig. 3;

ports I0. Rails I2'are connected together at their opposite extremitiesby end pieces I3 of the ,bed II.

Mounted on the bed II for movement therealong toward and away from eachother are carriages I4 and I5 of like construction having runners I6engaged with and slidable along. the rails I2. Runners I6 are connectedby cross supports I'l for spaced vertical plates I 8, I9 and 20 eachbolted or otherwise suitably secured to one of the cross supports I'I.Plates I8, I9, 20'

are connected by the rods 2l shouldered to bear against plates I8, I9and having reduced portions 22 for connection with plates 20. Nuts 23clamp plates I8 on outer reduced ends of rods 2|. Nuts 24 clamp platesI9 against the inner shouldered portions of rods 2|. Nuts 25 clampplates 20 on the inner ends of the reduced portions 22 of rods 2|.

Carriages I4, I5 have mounted thereon for movement therewith rubber tirestretching and applying mechanisms of like construction. Like parts ofboth of these mechanisms are indicated by the same reference charactersand, since the two mechanisms are identical, it is only necessary todescribe one of them in detail. Thus, the rubber tire stretching andapplying mechanism on carriage I4, for example, includes a cylinder 26arranged between plates I8 and I9 and projecting through a suitableopening in the latter. Cylinder 26 has a boss 2'I formed integrally witha base 28 secured to plate I8 by bolts 29, Figs. 2, 5 and 6. A flange 30on cylinder y 26 bears against the outer side of plate I9. A

head 3|, havinga flange 32, is secured on cylvinder 23 by bolts 33.These bolts 33 are anchored in cylinder base 28 and project throughsuitable openings in flange 32, plate I9 and flange 30.

A piston 34 in cylinder 26 is secured at 35 on the reduced inner end 36of a piston rod 31. The piston rod 31 projects outwardly through asuitable opening in cylinder head 3 I, and is provided with a packinggland 38 secured in any suitable manner to cylinder head 3l. Exteriorlyof cylinder 26, piston rod 31 is provided with an 'abutment 39. Asubstantially stationary cam plate 40, having trip iinger camming slots4I therein, is loosely mounted on piston rod 31 between abutment 39 andcylinder head 3l. -A 1head 42, movable inwardly and outwardly of themachine and having trip finger receiving slots 43, is loosely mounted onpiston rod 31 between a spider 44 and the abutment 39. The spider isposi-' tioned on a reduced, threaded end 45 of piston rod 31. A nut 46is threaded on reduced ,piston rod end 45 and holds vspider 44 inposition thereon.

A pair of guide rods 41, Figs. 1, 2,` v3, '1,' 8, '9 and 11, areprovided for cam plate 49 and head 42. Rods 41 have outer reducedthreaded ends which project outwardly through suitable openings vinplate I9. Rods 41 are anchored upon plate `I`9 by nuts 48 threaded uponthe outer reduced ends of said rods and bearing against the outer 1faceof said plate. Rods 41 project through suitable openings in cam plate40. Sleeves 49 are mounted on rods 41 between plate I9 and cam plate 40to space them apart. Rods v41 project inwardly of head 42 throughsuitable openings therein. Springs lI) are mounted on rods 41 betweencam plate 40 and head 42. Nuts 5I are threaded on the inner ends of rods41 and limit inward movement of head' 42. Y

Another pair of guide rods 52 are provided for cam plate 40 and head 42.Rods 52 have outer reduced threaded ends which project through suitableopenings in plate I9, Fig. 10. Rods 41 and 52 are arranged in alternaterelation, and rods 52. are anchored upon plate I9 by nuts 53 threadedupon the outer reduced ends of said rods 52 andI bearing against theouter face of said plate. Rods 52 project through suitable openings incam plate 40 and head'42. Springs 54 are mounted on rods 52 betweenplate I9 and cam plate 40. Springs 55 are mounted on rodsV 52 betweencam plate 4l)V and head 42. Nu'ts 5G are threaded upon the inner ends ofrods 52 and also limit inward movement of nhead 42. Springs 50 and `55expand when head 42 is moved inwardly, and are compressed when head 42moves outwarldy. Springs 50 and' 55 prevent appreciable inward movementof cam plate 40, and spring 54 provide for slight yielding outwardmovement of said cam plate into 'engagement with the inner ends ofsleeves 49.

The spider 44 has short larms 51 projecting radially thereof. Pivotedat58 upon arms 51 are trip fingers 59 which project outwardly through thetrip finger receiving slots 43 of Vhead' 42. Fingers` 59 are alinedwith, and upon outward movement of piston rod 31 project through, thelinger camming slots 4I of vcam plate 40. Surrounding ngers 59 ,andtending to draw them inwardly toward spider 44 is an endless, circularcoil spring 60. This coil spring 50 is positioned in semicircul'ar,recesses 99 formed in the outer edges of fingers '59. Longitudinallyspaced latch teeth 6I and 62 are formed on the inner edges ofngers 59.Cams 63 are formed on the innerl edges of,`ngers 59 near their free ends64.

A small spider 65 comprised by parts 65 and rISO 4 51 is mounted on thereduced end 45 of piston rod 31. Part 61 is recessed to receive a nut 58threaded upon the reduced piston rodA end 45. Nut 68 thus clamps thespider 65 against the nut 46. Spider parts 6B, 61 have short arms 69 onwhich are pivoted, as 'at 10, corresponding ends of toggie links 1I. Theopposite ends of links 1I are pivotally connected, as at 12, with lugs13 formed on a substantially circular series of rubber tire stretching,'and applying lingers 14. The lugs 13 projectinwardly from the freeinner end portions ofingers 14, and the outer ends of said lingers arepivoted on head 42 to rock upon an arcuate surface 15 on the peripheryof said head. For this purpose, the outer ends of lingers 14 havesuitable openings through which loosely project the shanks of machinescrews 1S threaded rin suitable openings in the peripheral portion ofhead 42.

The rubber tires 11, which may be of solid or tubular construction, areeach placed in arcuate shaped tire gripping shoes or clamps 18, Figs. 5and '6, formed on holders 19 slidably mounted upon plate 2D at. thetopand bottom thereof. Holders 19 have 'suitable openings for retainerbolts 89 the inner ends of which are threaded in suitable openings'inthe top and bottom of plate 20. Bolts have nuts 8I threaded on theirouter ends. Springs 82, mounted on bolts 80 between nuts 81 and holders19, `provide for yieldable sliding movement o1' 'the holders so thatrubber tires of various sizes. may be placed between, gripped and heldin position by shoes 18. Plate 20 has 'alarge Vopening 83' therein,Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, so that fingers 14 may lbe projected through saidplate to engage, stretch and release tires 11 as later described.

A lawn mower lholder '84, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and' 12, is mounted on the bedII of the machine between the carriages I4 `and I5. This holder 84 hasfeet 85 projecting therefrom toward the front of the machine. Arrangedbelow the feet 85 of holder 34 are blocks 86 through suitable openingsin which project bolts 81. Thebolts 81 also project through slots :88formed lengthwise in the arms 89 vof guides 90 arranged transversely ofthe bedA II of the machine. Bolts 81 and the slots 8B in arms 89 enablethe lawn mower holder 84 to be adjusted transversely ofbed II and heldin various positions to accommodate lawn mowers of various sizes. Guides90 have secured' thereto Vor formed integrally therewith blocks 9Islidably fitted on the rails I2 so that the lawn mower holder 84 may bemoved along said rails to properly lposition said holder betweencarriages I4 and I5.

Lawn mower holding brackets" 92 have feet 93 resting on the rearv endsof guides '90. Bolts 94 project 'through 'slots 95 formed in feet 93lengthwise thereof. These bolts 94 are threaded in suitable openings inthe rear ends of guides 90. vBrackets. 92, through the describedconnections therefor with lguides 90, also may be adjusted transverselyof the bed II of the machine and' held in various positions toaccommodate lawn mowers of various sizes. VBrackets 92 are provided 'attheir upper ends with arms 96 having suitable openings for screws 91.Small hand operated wheels 98 are lfixed on the upper ends of screws 91.The screws 91 project downwardly through 'and have threaded 'engagementwith the walls of suitable openings Iformed in, a rest |09 which may beraised and lowered by said screws. Brack- 'ets v92 'areprovided withlugs IUI, and' screws 91 project loosely through suitable openings insaid lugs downwardly below the same. Collars secured on screws 91 belowlugs |0| prevent vertical displacement of said screws.

A standard |02, Figs. 1, 2 and 4, has its upper end welded or otherwisesuitably secured to the rail |2 which extends along the machine at thefront thereof. Standard |02 has pivoted on its lower end, as at |03, adouble arm lever |04 provided at its opposite ends, respectively, withfoot treadles and |06. A link |01 has its lower end pivotally connected,as at |08, with the lever |04 at a point between its pivot |03 and thetreadle |05. The upper end of link |01 is pivotally connected, as at|09, with an arm 0 xed on the stem of a valve |2. This valve ||2 isarranged for operation in a housing ||3 bolted or otherwise suitablysecured on the standard |02 near its upper end and at the rear thereof.The valve housing I3 is connected by a pipe ||4 with any suitable sourceof air under pressure, when the machine has been wheeled to its place ofoperation. A valve ||5 in pipe ||4 serves to control the supply ofcompressed air through said pipe to the valve housing ||3.

The valve ||2 is one of well known construction, made by HannaEngineering Works and, accordingly, a detail description of this valveis unnecessary. The valve I2 serves to direct compressed air selectivelyfrom housing ||3 through pipe unions I6, |I1 and 8 when said valve isoperated by actuation of lever |04. Pipe unions H6, ||1 and 8 arethreaded in suitable openings in valve housing |I3, and pipe union ||6has connected therewith an air exhaust pipe ||9. Pipe union ||1 isconnected by pipes |20 and other unions 2| with corresponding ends offlexible conduits |22. 'I'he opposite ends of conduits |22 are connectedwith pipe unions |23 which are also connected with corresponding ends ofpipes |24. The. opposite ends of pipes |24 are' connected with pipeunions |25 which, in turn, are threaded in suitable passages that areformed in the bosses 21 and lead into the outer ends of the cylinders26. Pipe union ||8 is connected by pipes |26 and other unions |21 withcorrespending ends of flexible conduits |28. The opposite ends ofconduits |28 are connected with pipe unions |29 which are also connectedwith the corresponding ends of pipes |30. The opposite ends of pipes |30are connected with pipe unions |3| which, in turn, are threaded insuitable passages that are formed in the cylinder heads 3| and lead intothe inner ends of the cylinders 26.

A carriage moving shaft |32, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, is located at theright of the machine and projects transversely of and below the bedShaft |32 is journalled in a bearing |33 secured in any suitable mannerto the rail I2 which extends along the machine at the front thereof. Ahub |34 provided with handles |35 is fixed on the forward end of shaft|32 to operate it. A double arm lever |36 is fixed on the rear end ofshaft |32 in any suitable manner. One arm |31 of lever |36 is pivotallyconnected, as at |38, with one end of a long link |39. The opposite endof link |39 is pivotally connected, as at |40, with a clevis |4|, Figs.2, 4, 8 and 9, welded or secured in any other suitable manner to thecarriage |4 upon one of the cross supports I1 thereof. The other arm |42of lever |36 is pivotally connected, as at |=43, with one end of a shortlink |44. The opposite end of link |44 is pivotally connected, as at|45, with a clevis |46, Figs. 2 and 4, welded or secured in any othersuitable manner to the carriage I5 upon one of the cross supports |1thereof.

VReferring now to operation of the machine, rubber tires 11 are placedand clamped inthe shoes 18 of tire holders 19, as previously described.A lawn mower |41, Fig. 1, is placed upon holder 84 so that the mowersroller arms |41', Fig. 12, rest on said holder. Mower |41y includes theusual side frames |49, wheels |50, reel |5|, top cross bar |52connecting side frames |5|, and bottom cross bar |53 connecting saidside frames and carrying the cutter bar |48. Holder 84 and brackets 92are adjusted and clamped upon guides to properly position the mower |41and the wheels |50 so that their axis of rotation may be brought intoalinement with the longitudinal axis of each of the piston rods 31. Thetop cross bar |52 of the mower is supported on the rest |00. Hand wheels98 are rotated to operate screws 91 and move rest |00 and the mowercross bar |52 vertically until the axis of rotation of the mower wheels|50 is brought into alinement with the longitudinal axis of each of thepiston rods 31.

The pipe ||4 having been connected with the source of air underpressure, treadle |05 is depressed to lower link |01 and arm ||0 so thatvalve ||2 is rotated clockwise and connects pipe H4 with pipes |22, |24through the valve housing 3. Compressed air is thus admittedto the outerends of cylinders 26 to move .pistons 34 and piston rods 31 inwardly ofthe machine. Heads l42 and spiders 44, 65 move inwardly with piston rods31. Inward movement of heads 42 results from expansion of springs 50, 55and is limited by engagement of said heads with the nuts 5|, 56 on theinner ends of the stationary guide rods 41, 52. When heads 42 moveinward, the fingers 14 move inward and their free inner ends areprojected within the tires on holders 19 through the large openings 83in plates 20. At this time, inward movement of heads 42 ceases andspiders 44, 65 continue to move inward.

With further inward movement of heads 42 prevented, continued inwardmovement of spiders 65 straightens out the toggle connections 1| betweensaid spiders and the fingers 14. Straightening out of the aforesaidtoggle connections spreads the ngers 14 outwardly with a swingingmovement thereof about their pivots 15, 16 on the heads 42. When lingers14 are thus spread outwardly, their free inner ends engage the tires 11and stretch them beyond their normal size so that they may be appliedupon the mower wheels |50 as will presently be described. When the tires11 are being stretched by the lingers 14,

the holders 19 will slide along the tops and bottoms of plates 20 andcompress the springs 82.'

With in-ward movement of heads 42 discontinued, spiders 44 on furtherinward movement thereof will draw the trip ngers 59 inwardly through theslots 4| in cam plates 40 and the slots 43 in heads 42. When the cams 63of ngers 59 pass inwardly through the cam plate slots 4|, fingers 59 areretracted toward spiders 44 by springs 60, and the teeth 62 of saidngers are engaged with the inner faces of heads 42. Fingers 59 thus lockthe straightened toggle connections 1| and insure that fingers 14 willremain in spread positions and hold tires 11 stretched until the propertime for application of said tires to the mower wheels |50. Inwardmovement of the pistons 34 and piston rods 31 ceases when the abutments39 on said rods engage .the heads 42.

During spreading ofthe ngers14 and stretchtation to shaft |32 throughthe medium of -the handles |35. In this connection, it will beremembered that the carriages I4, I5 are connected with shaft |32 by thelever arms |31, |42 and the links |39, |44 so, accordingly, inwardmovement of carriages I4, I5 along rails I2 will result fromcounter-clockwise rotation of shaft |32, During inward movement ofcarriages I4, I5, the inner slotted ends of hardened screws 31',adjustably secured and threaded in the inner ends of piston rods 31 insuitable openings therein, engage the mower wheels |50 at the centersthereof and shift the mower |41 along holder 84 and rest to position themower |41 vcentrallyof the heads 42 so that the expanded tires 11 on theinner ends of the spread fingers 14 are thus positioned over the mowerwheels |50. Inwardmovement of carriages I4, I will be discontinued whenthe expanded tires 11 have been carried :inward to and are positionedover the mower wheels |50 by the holders 19 and said carriages. At thistime, the machine attendant depresses treadle |06 to lift link |01 andarm ||0 and turn valve II2 counter-clockwise in valve housing |I3.

During counter-clockwise movement of valve I I 2, compressed air in theouter ends of. cylinders 2B is exhausted to atmosphere through pipe IIB,the valve ||2, the valve housing ||3 and the described connections forsaid housing with the outer ends of said cylinders. Upon completion ofcounter-clockwise movement of valve II2, the inner ends of cylinders 26are connected with pipe II4 through the valve ||2, the valve housing'lI3 and the described connections for said housing with the inner ends ofsaid cylinders. Compressed air is thus admitted to the inner ends ofcylinders 26 and moves pistons 34 and piston rods 31 outwardly of themachine. Spiders 44, B5 move outwardly with piston rods 31. Trip ngers59 move outwardly with spiders 44. Heads 42, then being engaged on theirinner faces by the teeth62 of fingers 59, move outwardly along guiderods 41, 52.

Outward movement of heads 42 withdraws lingers 14 from the stretchedtires 11 which then contract and snap into position on the mower J' thecam 'slots 4| 'in plate 40. This spreads the i fingers 59 so that theteeth 62 pass outwardly through the slots 43 of heads 42 as outwardmovement of spiders 44, piston rods 31 and pistons 34 continues. Springs54 cushion cam plates 40 when the ends 64 and cams 63 of ngers 59 entercam slots 4|. The teeth 62 of iingers 59 are disengaged from the innerfaces of heads 42 when the cams 63 enter cam slots 4| andthe fingers 59are spread. Teeth 62, accordingly, pass outwardly through the slots 43of heads 42 as iin'gers 59 move outwardly. When teeth 62 are disengagedfrom the front faces of heads 42, fingers 59 no longer impart outwardmovement to said heads 42 and the straightened toggle connections 1| areunlocked.

When the straightened toggle connections 1| are unlocked and nngers 59no longer impart outward movement to heads 42, said toggle connectionsare retracted through continued outward movement of spiders 65 withpiston rods 31: Re-

Athe inner ends of said cylinders.

traction of toggle connections 1| retracts lingers 14,V whereuponsprings 82 expand and slide hold'- ers 19 toward each other on the topsand bottoms of plates 20. At thistirne, spiders 44 engage heads 42 andthe inner faces lof said heads are engaged by the teethBI of fingers 59.Outward movement of heads 42 having compressed the springs 50, 55, saidsprings are retained in compressed ycondition through locking of heads42 by the teethfSI of ngers 59. Outward movement of' piston rods 31 isstopped by engagement of abutments 39 with cam plates 40 and engagementof said plates with the inner ends of the stationary sleeves 49.

When fingers 14 have been moved outwardly and disengaged from tires 11the latter, as previously pointed out, contract and snap into positionvon'mower wheels |50. At this time, or later as desired, the carriagesI4, I5 are moved outwardly along the bed II of the machine by rotatingshaft |32 clockwise through the medium of the handles |35. The heads 42and fingers 14 having been moved outwardly and said fingers having beenretracted, as described, `treadle |06 is released whereupon saidtreadle, the treadle |05, the arm |04 and parts connected with said armare returned to the positions thereof shown in Fig. 2. This may beaccomplished by the machine attendant or automatically by suitablemeanswhen he releases treadle |06. In either case, Valve II2 rotates toa neutral position and prevents delivery of compressed air to cylinders26,

During rotation of valve |I2 to its neutral position, compressed air inthe inner ends of cylinders 26 is delivered to atmosphere through pipeH9, the valve I|2, the valve housing ||3 and the described connectionsfor said valve housing with The tires 11 having been applied on mowerwheels |50 and the carriages I4, I5 having been moved outwardly, asdescribed, the lawn mower |41, which hasmerely been placed upon holder84 and rest |00 without being secured thereto in any way, may then beremoved from the machine and another placed therein for applicationthereby of tires to the mower Wheels in the manner described.

4While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described in detail herein, it is to beexpressly understood that the invention is not limited to saidembodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A wheelwright machine comprising means for supporting a structurehaving a plurality of wheels, a plurality of tire carrying mechanismsmovable relatively to said supporting means to carry the tires topositions adjacent the wheels, a pluralityy of means associated with butmovable relatively to said tire carryingmechanisms for applying thetires to the wheels, and means for leffecting like movements of saidtire carrying mechanisms and saidtire applying means simultaneously soas to apply a plurality of'tires to a plurality of wheelssimultaneously.

2. A wheelwright' machine comprising a plu- Vrality of tire holding,stretching and applying mechanisms, and means for successively impartingtire stretching and applying movements to said mechanisms whereby tiresheld by said mechanisms are applied'on a plurality of wheelssimultaneously.

3.',A wheelwrig'ht machine comprising a plu- 9 rality of tire holding,stretching and applying mechanisms, means for supporting a wheeledstructure with the wheels thereof opposite said mechanisms, and meansfor successively imparting tire stretching and applying movements tosaid mechanisms whereby tires held by said mechanisms are applied onsaid wheels simultaneously.

4. A wheelwright machine comprising a plurality of movable carriages, aplurality of tire carrying mechanisms each mounted on and movable withone of the carriages, means for simultaneously moving the carriages andmechanisms to tire applying positions, a plurality of additionalmechanisms mounted on said carriages but movable relatively thereto andto said tire carrying mechanisms -for applying the tires to wheelsy andmeans for simultaneously operating said tire applying mechanisms.

5. A wheelwright machine comprising a plurality of movable carriages, aplurality of tire carrying, stretching and applying mechanisms eachmounted on one of said carriages, means for simultaneously impartingtire stretching movement to the mechanisms, means for simultaneouslymoving the carriages and mechanisms to tire applying positions for thelatter, and means for simultaneously imparting tire applying movement tosaid mechanisms at said positions so that tires carried by and stretchedon said mechanisms are applied thereby on a plurality of wheelssimultaneously.

6. A wheelwright machine comprising a. plurality of movable carriages, aplurality of tire carrying mechanisms each mounted on and movable withone of said carriages, operating means for simultaneously moving thecarriages and tire carrying mechanisms to tire applying positions,a-plurality of .additional mechanisms mounted on said carriages butmovable relatively thereto and to said tire carrying mechanisms forapplying tires to wheels, iluid operated means on the carriagesconnected with said tire applying mechanisms and adapted to operate themsimultaneously lat said positions whereby they may apply said tires on aplurality of wheels simultaneously, and means for controlling operationof said iluid operated means.

7. A wheelwright machine comprising a plurality of tire carrying,stretching and applying mechanisms, means for simultaneously moving themtoward and away from tire applying positions, operating means forimparting tire stretching movement to the mechanisms simultaneously andfor imparting tire applying movement to said mechanisms simultaneouslyso that they may apply tires carried thereby on a plurality of wheelsarranged at said positions, and means controlled by said operating meansfor locking the mechanisms in tire stretching position and for unlockingthem to apply said tires.

8. A wheelwright machine comprising a bed upon which a lawn mower may besupported, a pair of carriages arranged on the bed for movementtherealong toward and away from the wheels of said lawn mower, a pair oftire carrying, stretching and applying mechanisms each mounted on one ofthe carriages for movement therewith and adapted to -carry a tire to oneof the lawn mower wheels Ifor application of the tire thereon, operatingmeans for imparting tire stretching movement to said mechanismssimultaneously and for imparting tire applying movement theretosimultaneously, whereby said mechanisms may apply tires on said wheelssimultaneously when the mechanisms and tires carried thereby have beenmovedftoward the lwheels with said carriages, and means controlled bysaid operating means for locking said mechanisms in tire stretchingposition and for unlocking them to apply said tires. v

9. A wheelwright machine comprising a plurality of tire carrying,stretching and applying mechanisms movable toward and away from alplurality of wheels on a wheeled structure and adapted to carry tiresto the wheels for application of the tires thereon, operating means forsimultaneously imparting tire stretching movement to said mechanisms andfor imparting tire applying movement thereto simultaneously, wherebysaid mechanisms may apply tires to said wheels simultaneously when thetires have been stretched by the mechanisms and moved thereby toward thewheels, and means controlled by said operating means for locking saidmechanisms in the stretching position when moved toward the wheels andfor unlocking said mechanisms to apply said tires to the wheels, saidlocking means :comprising means to lock said mechanisms against thestretching and applying movement when moved away from said wheels.

10. A wheelwright machine comprising a plurality of tire stretching andapplying mechanisms movable toward and away from a plurality of wheelson a wheeled structure, a plurality of tire carrying means to hold tiresin position for application thereof on the wheels by the tire stretchingand applying mechanisms, means for simultaneously moving said mechanismstoward and away from said wheels, and means for simultaneously impartingtire stretching movement to said mechanisms and for imparting tireapplying movement thereto simultaneously, whereby said mechanisms mayapply said tires to said wheels simultaneously when moved toward thesame.

11. A wheelwright machine comprising a support provided therein with anopening, holders slidably mounted on the support adjacent the openingfor engaging tread portions of a tire and holding the tire opposite theopening on one side thereof, tire stretching mechanism including membersmovable through said opening from the other side thereof to engage atire in said holders and means for expanding said members so as tostretch the tire, means for holding a wheel opposite the opening in saidsupport on the same side thereof as the tire, mechanism for producingrelative movement between said support and said wheel holding means toposition the wheel within the stretched tire, and means -forcontractingsaid tire engaging members and withdrawing the latter fromengagement with Athe tire, whereby the tire may contract about thewheel.

12. A wheelwright machine comprising a headv movable in oppositedirections, an annular series of fingers pivoted on the head and movablethere'- with, means movable in one direction for spreading the fingersto stretch a tire thereon and movable in the opposite direction `forretracting them to apply the tire on a wheel, one or more trip fingersarranged on and movable with the finger spreading and retracting meansto lock the head and hold the tire stretching and applying fingers inspread position, said trip iingers being releasable from the head toprovide for retraction of the tire stretching and applying iingers, andmeans for operating said trip iingers through movement of the same inopposite directions with said nger spreading and retracting means.

13. A wheelwright machine comprising a head site direction forretracting them to apply the tire on a wheel, trip fingers engageablewith the head to lock it and hold the tire stretching and applyingfingers in spread position, said trip fingers Abeing arranged on andmovable-with the nger spreading and retracting means and releasable fromthe head to provide for retraction of the tire stretching and applyingngers, and cam means having slots to receive the trip fingers andoperate them through movement of the same ,in opposite directions withsaid finger spreading Vand retracting means.

A'14. A wheelwright machine comprising a yfluid operated device, a headslidably mounted thereon for movement in opposite directions, an annularlseries of tire stretching and applying fingers pivoted on the head andmovable therewith, means connecting the fingers with and operable by thefluid'operated device for spreading the ngers to stretch a tire thereonand for retracting them to apply the tire on a wheel, guidearods for thehead, means for operating the head including springs on the guide rods,trip fingers on the fluid operated device movable in opposite directionsthereby and engageable with the head to lock it and hold the tirestretching and applying fingers in spread position, said trip ngersbeing releasable from the head to provide for retraction ofthe tirespreading and applying fingers, and a substantially stationary cam platethrough openings of which the fluid operated device and guide rodsproject, said cam plate and head having slots through which the tripfingers may project, and said trip iingers being operated throughmovement of said fluid operated device and projection through the lcamplate slots.

15. A wheelwright machine comprising av plurality of tire supportingmembers having openings therein and means to hold tires opposite theopenings at one side thereof in vertically arranged positions to beapplied on a plurality of vertically arranged wheels located on the sameside of said openings as said tires, a plurality of mechanisms movablethrough said openings from the opposite sides thereof for engaging thetires held by said holding means and applying said tires on said wheels,and means for operating said mechanisms.

16. A wheelwrightmachine comprising a plurality of tire supportingmembers having openings therein and means to hold tires opposite theopenings at one side thereof in vertically arranged positions to beapplied on a plurality of vertically arranged wheels located on the sameside of said openings as said tires, avplurality of laterally movablemechanisms operable through said openings from the opposite sidesthereof to engage the tires held by said holding means, stretch thetires, and withdraw from the stretched tires for contraction thereof andapplication of the same on said wheels, and meansfor operating saidmechanisms.

17. A wheelwright machine comprising a plurality of tire applying meansarranged in spaced relation to one another and having devices to holdtires in positions for application thereof on wheels and other devicesmovable relatively to .adjacentthe tire applying means, and mechanismfor moving oneof said means relative to the other kof said means wherebythe wheels of said structure may have said tires applied thereon by saidtire applying means.

18. A wheelwright machine comprising a plurality of tire applying meansarranged in spaced relation to one another and having devices toreleasably support tires for application thereof on wheels and otherdevices movable relatively to said first named devices and operable tostretch the supported tires and withdraw therefrom for applicationthereof on said wheels, means for positioning a wheeled structureadjacent the tire applying means, and mechanismfor moving one of saidmeans relative to the other of said means whereby the wheels of saidstructure may have said tires applied thereon by said tire applying 19.A wheelwright machine comprisingmeans for positioning a wheel in avertical plane, `and tire applying means comprising means to carry avertically arranged tire laterally to the wheel for application of thetire thereon and other means movable laterally with respect to said tirecarrying means and operable upon the tire for application of said tireon said Wheel.

20. A wheelwright machine comprising means for positioning a wheel in avertical plane, tire applying means comprising a holder to support atire in vertical position for application thereof onl the wheel anddevices movable with respect to said tire holder and'operable upon thetireso held for application thereof on the wheel, and mechanism for.moving one of said means laterally relatively to the other of said meansso that said tire may be applied on said wheel by said tire applyingmeans.

21. A wheelwright machine comprising tire applying kmechanism includingoperating means movable in opposite directions, a head movable inopposite directions with and relative to the operating means, tirestretching fingers pivoted on the head and connected with the operatingmeans for operation thereby, head and iinger locking devices mounted onand movable with said operating means, and means for actuating thelocking devices during movement thereof to lock or unlock said head andsaid ngers and thereby prevent or provide for movement of the same atpredetermined intervals.

WILLIAM R. BISHOP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS v Date

